NHTSA Complaint #10070757 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

LET'S SEE, WHERE SHALL I BEGIN. WITHIN MONTH OR TWO OF PURCHASE OF 2000 FOCUS SEDAN IT WAS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR THE FRONT A PANEL TRIM. IT TOOK 3 TIMES TO FINALLY GET THAT RIGHT. ALSO LESS THAN 5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A STRESS FRACTURE (WAS A 1-1.5 HAIRLINE CRACK WHICH APPEARED IN WINDSHIELD). THE WINDSHIELD HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED AGAIN. WHILE ADJUSTING THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AROUND THE BASE, APPARENTLY FROM SLIGHT PRESSURE OF MIRROR. AND JUST RECENTLY, AUGUST 2003, I'VE NOTICED WATER DROPS FLYING UP FROM ABOVE THE DASHBOARD. NOT SURE IF WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING AROUND THE BOTTOM BASE OR MAYBE A.C. HAVEN'T HAD IT CHECKED YET, BUT IT WILL BE IN THE SHOP THIS WEEK FOR OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVEN'T MENTIONED YET. IT WAS IN SHOP IN LATE 2001 OR EARLY 2002 FOR THROTTLE PROBLEMS. WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING STILL THE ENGINE WOULD RACE BETWEEN 2.5 AND 3000 RPMS. FORTUNATELY I NEVER USED THE CRUISE CONTROL DURING THAT TIME. LATE 2002 THE TRUNK LOCK MECHANISM APPARENTLY BROKE PREVENTING THE TRUNK FROM SHUTTING PROPERLY. IT WOULDN'T LATCH AT ALL. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR COVER RECALL FIXED. AND ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE FUEL GAUGE HAS READ EMPTY, NO MATTER HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE IN THE TANK. AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK NOTHING ELSE CAN GO WRONG, IT HAPPENS. ME AND MY WIFE WERE SHOPPING THIS MORNING ON LABOR DAY SATURDAY. WE GOT IN THE CAR AND I WENT TO START IT. MY KEY SOMEHOW WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION COMPLETELY, NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED. WE EVENTUALLY CALL OUR TRIPLE AAA INSURANCE AND ARRANGE FOR A LOCKSMITH TO COME AND TAKE A LOOK. HE LOOKS AT IT A SECOND AND DECLARES WHAT WE FEAR THE WORST. OUR FOCUS IS THE 7TH FOCUS THIS MONTH HE HAS SEEN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT THE IGNITION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY FORD. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD.